The Descendants of John Baker (Ca. 1640-1704) of Hartford, Connecticut

John Baker was the first known Baker ancestor of his line to arrive in America. He settled in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1665 and raised a family that produced many generations of descendants. Those descendants explored and settled Connecticut and later spread out into the land and territories of the United States as the country grew westward. They were farmers, soldiers, landowners, businessmen, doctors, lawyers, surveyors, scientists, and statesmen. Some of them, including many patriots of the American Revolution, fought in the battles and wars that helped to define this nation. They had one thing in common—they were all risk takers who sought to better their lot in life.This book tells the story of thirteen generations of Bakers in America. It is both the product of several years of original research and a compilation of the work of previous authors, woven together to reconstruct the history of the people that comprise the huge family of Bakers and their associated lines. Researching these families led the author to original records and transcripts in libraries, churches, cemeteries, family properties, and historical sites in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, Iowa, and other states. The result is a thorough picture of the descendants of John Baker that serves as a reliable resource for readers interested in learning about this amazing family. It also provides an organizational framework onto which other researchers can attach their family trees.The work is presented in two volumes, this being the first of the two. Volume I describes descendant generations one through eight and includes a selection of charts and photos. Volume II presents generations nine through thirteen and contains the overall index for both volumes.Dr. Fred G. Baker is a hydrologist, historian and author living in Colorado. He began investigating his family history out of curiosity about where his branch of the Bakers came from. He is the author of Growing Up Wisconsin, The Life and Times of Con James Baker, and The Light from a Thousand Campfires (with Hannah Pavlik).